District



M. A. LYNCH ANDI. P. F. WHITE.

cLosuaE fon TANKS.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 23.1918. I 1,308,794, Patented July 8, 1919.

3 SHEETS-SHEET l.

TME coLumuA PLANnuRAPM co., WASHINGTON. l). c.

M. A. LYNCH ANU J. P. F. WHITE.

CLOSURE FOR TANKS. APPLICATION msn MAR. 23. 191s.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Pn co., WASHINGTON u c Patented July 8, 1919.

M. A. LYNCHl AND J. P. F. WHITE. cLosuHE FoR TANKS.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 23| IQ- 1 ,$308,794. Patented July 8, 1919.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

Gtrommg Tm: cOLuMulA PLANOGRAPII co., WASHINGTON. L` C.

ing the closure of powder tanks air-tight i larged fragmentary view of vthe knee and UNTTED sTATEs PATENT oEEioE.

MICHAEL A. LYNCH AND JOHN P. F. WHITE, 0F WASHINGTON, DISTRICT 0F COLUMBIA.

CLOSURE FOR TANKS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 8, 1919.

Application led March 23,1918. Serial No. 224,194. I

nection withpowder tanks where a complete sealing of the container is necessary to protect the contents. Tanks adapted for this purpose are ordinarily made of metal and it is Vwell known that in order to secure an air-tight seal in closing these tanks gaskets vof leather or other material must be interposed between the closure and the tank at the point of contact between these two elements. It is also well known that such gas; kets-deteriorate in use. The Vobject of our invention is to provide an improved, simple and highly efficient mechanism for renderand for compensating for the deterioratlon ofthe gasket.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a fragmentary sectional view of a portion of a tank showing our improved closure. Fig. 2is a top plan view. Fig. Sis an 'ensectional view. Fig. 4 is a similar view showing a modified form of lever arm. Figs. 5 and 6 are fragmentary sectional views showing slight modifications of they locking means. Fig. 7 is a top plan a portion of the lever i arm shown in Flg. 6.

5 ofthe latteris an Referring to Figs. 1 to 4, inclusive, we have shown at 1 a portion of a powder tank which is formedof sheet metal, a head 2 being welded or otherwise secured. to the tank. :This head has a portion 3.of ringformextending above the upper edge 4 of the tank and spaced therefrom a slight distance.V 5 indicates the cover for the tank. This `cover is preferably formed of sheet metal and has at itsv peripheral edge and on itsunderside an annular groove 16 to'accommodate a gasket 7 of rubber, or other material whichis adapted to coperate with the upper edge 4 of the tank, the edge forming arseat for the cover. Disposed centrally upwardly extending post B which has a base 9 xedly secured thereto,

Above the cover we rovide a locking member 10 which is preferably of spider form, the legs 12 being adapted for locking engagement with spaced inwardly extending plates 13 secured to the inner side of the ring-like portion 3 of the head. The upper face of the legs 12 is inclined from one slde to'thev other to insure a wedging engagement with the plates 13. The locking member is centrally apertured at 14 to receive an eXteriorly threaded sleeve 15 which is adapted to be rotated about the post 8. Cooperating with this sleeve 15 and located between the locking member and Athe cover is a nut 16 to which are secured a plurality of presser arms or levers 17 preferably formed of spring metal. These arms are designed to engage the cover 5 adjacent its outer edge and directly above the groove and gasket so as to effect a firm seating of the cover on the upper edge 4 of the tank. The number of presser arms preferably corresponds to the number of legs of the locking member. r1`he latter have downwardly extending flanges 13 to prevent turning of the arms 17 relatively to the legs 12. These flanges also materially add to the strength of the locking member. Each arm at its inner end its between upper and lower plates 18 and 19 of the nut 16, and the arms have a slight vertical play between these plates to which they are secured by a ball and socket connection 20. The presser arms or levers extend upwardly and outwardly from their connection with the nut 16 and at a point 21 near their outer ends are bent slightly downward' the extreme outer end 22 of the arm bearing on the upper face of the cover directly over the gasket 7. The point 21 of each lever arm bears against the underface of its complementary leg 12 this oint forming the fulcrum of the arm. t 1s manifest that the distance between the extreme outer end of each arm and the point 21 may be altered to provlde greater or less leverage as the size of the closure may reband752 which strengthens the upper of the tank, the latter forming la seat for ment of the nut 16 on the sleeve 15 will applysuflicient pressure to the edge of the cover tocause' the latter tobe iirmly seated on the upper edge of the tank.

It is apparent that equally advantageous results may be secured by forming, as shown in Fig. 1,'the nut 26 and presser arms 27 from a single piece of metal thel bore 28 being threaded to engage the sleeve 15. Le-z verage mechanismv such as shown in this iigure is capable of producing the same'A effec tive results. as the form wherein the presser arms are movably securedto the nut 16.

In applying the cover to the tank 1t is onlyy necessary to turn the parts so that the legis ot the locking member are out of line with the inwardly projecting plates 13. The cover is then pressed down upon its seat and the lockingf member turned so that its legs will wedge'un'der the plates 13. By turning thev sleeve 15 to the rightthe nut 16 will workv up' on thesleeve causing the arms 17 to fulcrum about the points 21,` such movement ofthe arms ellecting downward movement of the extreme outer ends 22 anda consequent #application of pressure to the pe. ripheral portion of the cover which is thereby moved `relatively lto the locking member 10. By reasonV of the `resiliency of the arms, thispressure will be'constant thus veieetively sealing the cover tothe tank. and compensating for any deterioration which may occur in the gasket. The power for raising the spring arms and consequently securing greater pressure between the edge of the tank and the cover may be exerted on the cover at its center or on the spider, or it may be distributed between the' cover and the spider. It will be apparent that pressure within the tank will-l have a tendency to force the center olf the cover up# wardly and such: upward movement will give greater power to the leverage mechanism.

In Fig. 5 we have shown the tank 31 pro-V vided with a head 32 adjacent the upper edge 34 thereof, this edge formingl a'sea-t for the cover 35;- Aty spaced intervals around the head 32 are headed lugs 36 adapted for `locking engagementwitha casing 37 th-rougl'rbayonet slots- 38, the c asing formingfa housing for thek cover 35' and the leverage lmechanism by which the cover 1s seated on'the tank.

As shown, the casing has a central depression 39 within which the manipulating nut 40 isreceive'dso as to prevent any projection beyond the upper horizontal plane of' the casing, enablingthe tanks to be superposedone upon the' other.i The inner face of the depressed portion forms fulcrum bearing for thelever armsA 41. In Fig. 6, the tank 51 has anvencircling edfge the' cover 531.' The means for locking this cover tol the tank includes aJ ring 54 havin-g a number of bayonet slots 55 which take in lugs 5G struck up from the band 52. Secured to and projecting inwardly of the rino' and near its upper edge are a plurality 0I knees 57 each of which has webs 58 to give additional strength. Ears 59 depending Vfrom these knees at each side and'connected by a short rodv 60 form a retaining means for the lever arms 61 which latter have their fulcrum on the under face of the knees.

The cover shown in .Figs 5 and `6 is readily attached to the tank by simply alining the open ends of the bayonet lslots with the locking lugs and crowding the casing or housing down and then turning the latter so as to positively lock it to the tank. The cover is then lirmly seated in the manner described with reference tothe form shown in Figs. l to 1.

The advantages of our invention will be apparent. VIt will be seen that by the very simple construction embodied'in our rcover wev are enabled to secure a perfect sealing of a tank, pressure being always exerted upon the cover directly above its engagement with the tank. 'Ihe parts forming the cover are simple and are not liable to readily get out of order.-

We claim as ourinvention:

1. In combination :with a tank, and a cover adapted to be seated onsaid tank, "locking means including coperating elements for securing.l said cover to the tank, and a plurality of'arms movable relatively to said locking means for causing said.V cover'to be irmly seated on thetank.

2. In combination with a tank,:and acover adapted to be seated on said tank,- locking` means including coperating elements for securing said Vcover to the tank, and a plurality of spring arms for forcing said cover to its seat, said arms bearing on said cove-r adjacent the point of engagement of the lat? ter with the tank. j f

3. In combination with a tank,"and a cover adz'rptedv to engage the kupper edgeiof such tank, means for locking said cover to the tank including cooperating elements, and

means; intermediate said locking means and said cover including a plurality of arms for causing the cover tov be firmly seated uponV the tank. v j

4e. In combination with a tank, and a cover for said tank adapted to Vengage its upper edge, means for locking said cover tosaid tank including cooperating elements, means intermediate said locking means and said cover having arms adapted to engage said coverand' saidv locking means :toeffect a'relative: movement therebetween toy cause .the cover to be firmly seated upon theftank.

5.- Iii-'combination with a tank-.having its upper portion formed with a valve seat, and a cover for said tank adapted to engage said seat, a spider-likemenber for locking. said cover to said tank, and a second spider-like member intermediate said locking spider and said cover for effecting arelative movement therebetween to cause the latter to be firmly seated upon said tank.

6. In combination with a tank having its upper portion formed with a valve seat, and a cover for said tank adapted to engage said valve seat, an upwardly extending ring-like member surrounding said seat and spaced therefrom, said ring-like member having inwardly extending spaced apart portions, a member having a plurality of legs for cooperating with said inwardly extending portions to lock said cover to said tank, and a leverage mechanism intermediate said locking member and said cover for effecting a relative movement therebetween to firmly A upper portion formed with a valve seat,

seat the latter upon said tank.

7. In combination with a tank having its and a cover for said tank adapted to engage said valve seat, an upwardly extending ring-like member surrounding said seat and spaced therefrom, said ring-like member having portionsforming part of a locking element, a member having a plurality of legs for cooperating with said ring-like member to lock said'eover to said tank, and a leverage mechanism intermediate said locking member and said cover for effecting a relative movement therebetween to firmly seat the latter upon said tank.

8,. In combination with a tank having a valve seat at its upper end, anda cover having a portion adapted to engage such valve seat, locking means including coperating elements for securing the cover to the tank, a leverage lmechanism 'interposed between said cover and said locking means, and means for actuating said leverage mechanism to cause the seating of said cover on the tank.

9. In combination with a tank having a valve seat at its upper end, and a cover having a portion adapted to engage such valve seat, looking means including coperating elements for securing the cover to the tank, a plurality ofv arms interposed between said Copies o! this cover and said locking means, a support f common to said arms, and means for actuating said support to cause the seating of said cover on the tank.

10. In combination with a tank having a valve seat at its upper end, and a cover having a portion adapted to engage such valve seat, locking means including coperating elements for securing the cover to the tank, a plurality of arms interposed between said cover and said locking means, a support to which said arms are movably connected at their inner ends, and means for actuating said support to cause the seating of said cover on the tank.

11. In combination with a tank having a valve seat at its upper end, and a cover having a portion ladapted to engage such valve seat, locking means including coperating elements for securing the cover to the tank, a plurality of arms interposed between said cover and said locking means, a support to which the inner ends of said arms are secured by ball and socket connection, the outer ends of said arms being adapted to bear upon said cover, and means for actuating said support to cause the seating of said cover on the tank.

12. In combination with a tank having a valve seat at its upper end, and a cover having a groove and a gasket in said groove adapted to engage said valve seat, an upwardly extending-centrally-disposed post on said cover, a manually operable screw threaded sleeve surrounding said post, a member for locking the cover t0 the tank, said member having an opening at its center through which said post and sleeve extend, a plurality of lever arms interposed between said cover and locking member and fulcrumed on the latter, and a connection between said lever arms and sleeve whereby the arms may be moved on their ulcrums to exert pressure on said cover.

In testimony whereof, we have signed this specification.

MICHAEL A. LYNCH. JOI-IN P. F. WHITE.

patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C. 

